bluejeangirl

I was reading up on tapioca since I've been using it alot in my new bread recipe. Apparently in Taiwan, a drink called bubble tea is all the rage. I think you can order it in your bigger cities here in the states and I was wondering if anyone has tried it. It does look good! Kinda funny I want to make it now. It has the little tapioca balls that sink to the bottom of the cup (served in a clear plastic cup). Like I need another reason to eat more tapioca.

Gail

On the subject of sensory overload does anyone else have problems when on your computer screen they'll have anything flashing or blinking. It drives me crazy. I find it so distracting. When they flash images during the commercials on t.v. I have to sometimes get up and leave the room. Its one of those things that adds to the already stressful environments we live in.

Gail

I was thinking about getting a mill to grind brown rice as I need it. I would be sure of it being fresh that way since the oils can get rancid. So my husband was going to get something at out local health store and I had him ask the owner what is the best brand. He told my husband to get one with a hand grinder because the motor on the electric ones get so hot. So I take it the heat from the motor must damage the flour in some way. Just guessing since I wasn't there. Has anyone heard of this?

Gail

For those of you who can't have tomatoes, have you found a substitute? I love that they have tons of flavor and are low calorie and I really can't think of anything else that could be used instead of tomato sauce or salsa. Am I missing something?

Have you ever oven roasted vegetables before? It brings out a sweetness in the veggie. I'll cut up carrot into a matchstick size, slice a red onion into slices then halve and halve again. Any root veggie works good. Then put on a baking sheet and enough olive oil to coat the veggies. Put in 400 degree oven for about 20 min. Make sure you do a load of them because they shrink in the oven. Mix with the pasta and add alittle more oil and parmesan or crumbled goat cheese.

Gail

Now THAT is funny! It took me a long time to understand those little sayings (and somebody has to explain what they mean the first time I hear them). If somebody uses one I haven't heard before, I take it literal, and make it obvious by answering or asking something 'stupid', and my kids will groan, roll their eyes, and go, "Oh, Mom, don't you know what that means?" And I'll have to tell them that I don't. I embarrass them regularly, because I'll say strange things in public, too.

What bugs me is, when I say something they deem inappropriate, and they won't explain why it is inappropriate (at least in their opinion). Like a few months ago, when my second daughter and her husband were visiting. I said something about having had diarrhea all day, and Karen said, "Mom, you can't say that." And I asked her, "Why not?" And she answered, "You just can't". Well, that is NOT helpful to me.

Apparently, I still haven't figured out which subjects are appropriate for conversation, and which ones aren't. I guess I never will. I console myself with thinking that soon people will think of me as that 'cute, naive old lady', who is allowed to say whatever she wants.

I've started taking violin and recorder lessons just recently. I am a complete beginner on the violin, but on at least the soprano recorder I'm at a grade seven to eight conservatory level. I really like my recorder teacher. He is about my age, and his parents were from Austria, and he knows quite a bit of German.

My kids have accused me of flirting with various men before (my dentist, chiropractor, friends). I don't have the slightest clue what they're talking about. I don't know how to flirt, and why you would want to!

So, to be safe, and to avoid potential misunderstandings, I sent Mike (my recorder teacher) an e-mail, explaining about Asperger syndrome and Tourette syndrome. And letting him know, that if he feels I may be flirting with him, it wouldn't be intentional, and wouldn't mean that at all.

Anyway, I had a lesson a couple of days ago. He said, "Ursula, I got your e-mail. Don't worry, everything is fine, I understand, my son has Tourette Syndrome. I am just so glad I finally have a student who actually can play the recorder!"

We had a lot of fun during that lesson. I am learning neat stuff, fancy trills and slides, and new notes. We were playing Bach, Haendel, Haydn and Mozart. I am hoping I will be able to play either the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, or No. 4 by Johann Sebastian Bach at the adult recital in April. But I don't think I'll play the violin, I am not good enough on that for any public performance yet (and won't be for a long time to come).

What I like about you Ursula is your so full of adventure. I always say I'd like to learn how to play an instrument but you actually do it. Also you don't seem to let your daughters comments bother you which is good. I get hurt when someone corrects me and so I probably have trained them (unintentionally) to not say anything but I never learn that way! I have to take it and let it roll off my back then maybe learn from it.

Gail

Shadow Aspergers is a term that describes someone with a few traits or mild traits that would not set them apart from a "normal person" (NT, or neurotypical) but perhaps be called reclusive, introvert or reserved.... but share characteristics of Aspergers

I hate crowds and loud noises bother me but I like listening to loud music.

I totally understand some of the things Kathryn does because I react the same way - it wasnt til the last few years that I realized - I understand her so well because I see me. I remember growing up and figuring I came from another planet (seriously) because I had so much trouble navigating the social world... and wondering why people lied, or were sooo worried about their clothing.

Yet I can make eye contact and I can understand idioms, I like practical jokes and other things that a person with Aspergers would not enjoy.

You cannot be a "little pregnant" ....but you can be a little bit Aspie".

Good to meet you!

Sandy.. another proud mom of an Aspie

Sandy thanks for starting this thread. I read all the threads you've started regarding aspergers with great interest. I came to realise I am a shadow asperger. I never even knew what asperger was until this year. But it describes me in so many ways. I don't want to take alot of time to describe anything at length here but in response to the sleep thing I have to listen to a radio program in order to fall asleep. It distracts me and I won't go over every conversation I had during the day. Otherwise I would and I would then wonder if I was harsh or just beat myself up because things didn't go perfect somehow. I have a C.D/radio player and I put the head phones under my pillow and turn the volume on high and I can hear it through the pillow.

There is a christian program called Unshackled that I listen to because its a real life story about how people and their conversion to christianity. Sometimes music helps too if the beat isn't to fast. The hardest thing for me is I'm going through hormonal changes now. Im 49 so I'll wake up alot during the night. If I had a stressful day I could lay awake for hours because my mind will be busy. I won't turn the radio on during this time because it doesn't seem to work as well. Why I have to figure things out I don't know. The worst nights are when I've started on something and couldn't finish it. For instant the other night I started to research something I found out I'm intolerant to. When this happens my brain lights up and I have a hard time sleeping because I have so much information in my head and I have to digest it all. I think others might shelve it away until morning but this is hard for me.

When I fell asleep I kept dreaming of going to the health food store and the man at the store showed my a new freezer case that had ice cream in it. I asked for a big scoop of the ice cream and I was shoving it into my mouth like it was the first meal I had in days. He then showed my a gluten free cheescake and I asked for a big piece of it and ate it right there in the store and couldn't get enough of it. I remember eating something else when I woke up and wondered what that dream meant. I usually try to figure out my dreams to see if they mean something especially when they are so weird. I realized the cake and icecream is the information and I'm shoving it in trying to take it all in. I realized I have to pace myself with info just like with food.

I'll have to stop the practice of reading right before bed. I hate watching t.v. though, its so bad.

Great thread and I'm sure I'll learn alot.

GAil

Has anyone tried the ones sold at Sam's? I used to buy these when the boys were young and they were good. I don't remember the name of them. I forgot about them.

Gail

My father's a chemist and he used to joke that xanthan gum is basically bacteria-poop.

I'm not certain that it necessarily has to cause issues for people with corn intolerances -- since the bacteria are consuming sugars from the corn -- and those go through a transformation when they're digested -- the resulting product might not have the components (protein usually, right?) that make corn an issue.

However, this is just a hypothesis.

How about people who are sensitive to molds and fungus? People with candida? I can't remember if xanthan gum is ever mentioned in the list of foods to avoid with candida.

Gail

Thanks for this info. I knew that Anne's dressings would always bother me when I would put them on my salads. I get real queezy after. I started to make my own dressings as a result of this.

I just checked and its in almost all baking mixes. It pretty hard to escape it. I can't get over how gross this is though. If I see black spots on my cauliflower I usually throw it out.

Gail

I have to agree Melinda and Lakisha rocked last night. Lakisha looked like she even surprised herself. She looked confident while she was singing but after that she got so quiet. If I could sing like that I sure wouldn't be working as a bank teller (I think thats what she does)

On the View today they showed a clip of Blake singing again. Elizabeth is all ga ga over him. I hope he records that song someday because he sings it so well I just love it. Can you download it?

Gail

What aisle did you find them in? Are they like a candy bar/protein bar.

If you lost that much weight I suppose this could be why your weak. Are there other foods you could be reacting to? If you were eating wheat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and stopped eating it there's that big void and it takes awhile to come up with alternatives. Also it might feel like your full when your probably not just because your stomach has strunk. Your body needs a certain amount of calories to function and when you go below that it starts to really rebel.

If you are eating the required calories and are still losing weight then it could be diabetes. You would be feeling very weak and tired with that.

Until I know more that's all I can go on.

Gail

Oh I forgot to mention!

I have had a noticeable improvement in energy level each day since I started the diet. I have also noticed that the aching spine I wake up with each morning and aching legs I have each night are also improving. For the first time in weeks I have made it to 3pm without almost falling asleep at my desk!

What are symptoms to watch out for as I sign that I have accidentally eaten some gluten?

One of the very first symptoms that went away for me was the next morning I didnt have pain running up and down my legs. Rather a weird one isn't it. Then of course other good things followed later alittle at a time.

One of the most talked about 1st symptom of an accidental glutening is a rumbling in your stomach (mine can be quite loud).

Then I'll get a foggy brain. People will be talking to me and I have a hard time understanding what they are saying to me.

Then I don't communicate well. Its like all my brains spilled out of my head. I'll have feeling of self hatred for no good reason.

The symptoms that follow are crabby as all get out and I don't want to leave the house because I'll get panicky and almost agoraphobic. I get constipated rather then D. I think my intestines just stop working. Anyway those are my symptoms but everyone is different.

Gail

How exciting Ryan! It does open alot more choices if you can tolerate them. Good advice Ravenwood. I didn't have oats for a year and tried them little by little and made sure that the oats are safe from cc.

Gail

Sorry to hear about this Steve. Try and keep positive thoughts even though its hard. Can you put on some music? Try and keep talking about it to others before talking to your mom to get the anger out. I hate to give any other advice because you probable know what works and what doesn't by now. Just know I hate that this has happened and feel bad for your going through this.

Gail

Have you've been gluten free yet? Your hypogycemia will probably improve once your off gluten. Helps to eat 6 meals aday. Try to include a protein in that meal and complex carb. Watch out with pototoes, and white rice and eating high sugar fruits. Do you do ok with soymilk? Oatmeal with soymilk and steavia to sweeten is a good first meal. I also add alittle cinnamon because it doesn't raise your blood sugar. It'll keep it even. You'll have to decide if you include oatmeal if your celiac. Some eat it others don't. You can google why using the past board disscussions instructed on the top of the page.

A good second meal..maybe a hard boiled egg or peanutbutter with a gluten free cracker or a slice of millet bread. (if you go gluten free) I also watch what the gluten free bread is made of and stay away from potato starch.

Lunch can be leftover from the night before. Or Salad with turkey breast or chicken breast. Tuna sandwich. Soup made with fiber rich beans or brown rice.

Snacks fruit like apples are good, pears, berries. Nut butters or nuts. Smoked salmon on crackers. Soy yogurt.

Supper try and make more then usual and you have leftovers. I mostly just keep my carbs low.

Before bed. I'll usually have yogurt or a small bowl of cereal and soymilk.

Gail

Hi and welcome to the boards. If your wondering why you have diarrhea after you went gluten free for just a few days it might be just to early to expect anything yet. There is probably gluten still in your system. Also your changing your diet and adding more fruit and veggies. It maybe your body adjusting to the fiber. Also fruit tends to make loose bowels. If it doesn't get any better post back and list what you've been eating for the last day or so and we can get a better understanding of what it is that's causing the problems. We do it all the time on here.

Gail

If you have been eating virtually nothing but vegetables and fruit for three years, you almost certainly have a protein deficiency. Protein deficiency causes coldness, fluid accumulation, fatigue and a lack of hormones and enzymes. Eating more protein (fish, eggs, lean meat, pulses, nuts, yoghurt) will help you lose some of your excess fluid, and you will then start to lose weight. Your bloating is probably due to a lack of digestive enzymes caused by the protein deficiency. You are so depleted of enzymes that you can only digest small amounts of food; the rest of the food sits around in your intestine, irritating it and causing swelling. So for the time being you should eat little and often. Ask in your health food shop for some digestive aids like HCl pepsin and bromelain, and use these until your own digestion improves.

Gail

I voted "yes, but less than 6 months". My mom also believed in giving babies cereal--a little bit in a bottle of formula--early on to help make them sleep better.

Neither of my younger sisters were breast fed, and I'm the only one that we know to be Celiac.

One of the regrets I have in life was following the advice of my mother in law who told me to mix up alittle of the baby cereals with milk before putting my babies to bed and they'll sleep through the night. I started this at only 3 mo. because I wanted to sleep. I don't remember if it was rice or wheat but I just cringe when I think about it. I breastfed my first until he was over a year and the second one for only 2 mo. He was a fussy baby and didn't like the taste of my milk and instead of changing my diet I went to formula. I know so much more now. But back in the early 80's they didn't have computers or even the information they do now.

I only watched the last hour of it but I liked the guy who had blond hair and wore it spiked up. His voice was so smooth.

I love American Idol but I don't always get to see it. I didn't see the show last week so I don't know the names yet.

Gail

First of all welcome to the boards its always nice to see a new member. I think denial is common especially when your young and you don't get symptoms that aren't real bad. There's nothing you can do about that now, its in the past and what you do for now on is whats important. The more days your into the diet clean the more you'll feel better physically and emotionally where you're better able to handle situations.

Once I was feeling better then I ever have in some time the decision to eat out were made from a position of strength and confidence and I owned my right to stand on the decision. Friends are fun to be around and you can get caught up in having fun but make a plan ahead of time what you'll say when one of them can't understand why you won't go to have pizza. Maybe rehearse it or write down what you'd say. Having no plan is a actually a plan to fail.

I don't eat out that much but when I do its usually with the same group of people and I almost always order a salmon fillet with no seasonings with a baked potato and salad with an oil and vinegar type of dressing on the side. Sometimes if I don't know the restaurant well I bring my own dressing in a little container in my purse. I explain I can't even have a crumb when it comes to wheat because of an allergy so I can't have a salad that had croutons on and were picked off. My husband will usually chimes in at this point because he's good with people (he knows how to smooze as they say) and cracks a few jokes. I find this approach to be the best instead of sounding too threatening if you know what I mean.

Hopefully you'll get a few more suggestions on the card thing because I never used them. I'm so glad you're making this a priority in your life and you won't regret it. Health is so important. The quicker you get on board the less damage done and your still young so not to worry.

Gail

I like to many of the naturally gluten free foods so I won't list those but among the packaged gluten free processed foods I like would be:

Millet bread by Sami's bakery in Florida, also their pizza crust, burger buns, and crackers.

Fritos and corn torilla chips by Garden of Eatin

Pamela's choc. chip cookies

Tinkyada noodles

Pamela's chocolate brownie mix

These are the only things I buy over and over again besides a rice cracker that I don't know the name of. I don't have them right now.

If you can get Pamela's baking and pancake Mix it has on its package recipes for muffins. It also has recipes for cookies besides the pancake and waffle recipe. I would make these often when I was just learning how to bake gluten free. You can get pretty creative by adding whatever you want.

Gail

Could anyone volunteer what gluten ingredient might be in ice cream. I've looked at several regular brands such as blue bell vanilla bean and didn't see anything that looked like a cause for concern. Thank you. lm

For those who are MSG sensitive its in ice cream listed under natural ingredients, carrageenan or sodium casinate. My husband eats a Ben and Jerry's called Black and Tan and it has malted milk powder in it and I question that as a red flag for celiacs.

I wonder about some of the chocolates they use to.

Gail

I think you've probably heard that the Salam witchcraft trials blamed the bizarre behavior on satanic possession when they were ingesting a fungus called ergot commonly associated with rye grains. This kind of poisoning usually causes hallucinations and delusions. They had no idea at the time this was causing it. It happens under certain conditions like a long dry/drought then alot of rain and moisture.

But thats an example of what fungus can do. It altered the chemistry of the mind like a psychotic drug. With peanuts and corn you have to worry about aflatoxin as Racheal mentioned. Its a mycotoxin produced by molds on foods. You can't see it. I think it mainly causes liver and kidney problems. But in some people they react because they are sensitive to molds. I'm one of those. I'll get nightmares if I have peanut butter before I go to bed.

Besides peanuts and nuts are hard on the digestion. It takes alot of enzymes to digest it. I had alot of peanuts this last thanksgiving because I didn't want to eat lunch and then not be hungry for the big meal. So I ate planters peanuts. Its also a comfort food for me Rene. It was the worse choice because I ate it on an empty stomach and it churned and gurgled and felt just like a glutening. I thought it was because I made a gluten stuffing for the boys. So I threw in the towel and ate some of it. Then I got worse.

Its wasn't a good thanksgiving.

Gail